Maybe you’re an Uptown or Beverly Road shopper; maybe you’re a second hand Rose; maybe you shop online…  but sooner or later, you’ll end up at the mall—and for Mt. Lebanon residents, the “go to” mall is South Hills Village,  straddled on the border of Upper St. Clair and Bethel  just a few feet over our border.  Everyone seems curious about the visible updates and improvements  taking place at the 40-plus-year-old  mall, which is now owned by the Simon Property Group. Here’s an update from Mt Lebanon resident Jennifer Carroll, the mall’s director of marketing and business development:

The new Dick’s Sporting Goods will open some time this fall, and Target will open in spring 2013. Both projects are well under way, and  Carroll has no doubt that both stores will be  huge draws. Dick’s will move from its longtime location to serve as a key  anchor at the upper north end of the mall. With two stories of retail space, it will be able to vastly expand its offerings. Target’s 145,000 square foot store will be at the same end of the mall, dramatically changing the look  from Route 19.

Several new stores opened this past spring and are doing well, says Carroll, including Francesca’s Collections, Bare Minerals and Saga Japanese Hibachi Steakhouse and Sushi Bar.   Currently under way is yet another expansion of Victoria’s Secret.  With 3,000 additional square feet, the store will offer an extensive selection of PINK products and dedicated PINK dressing rooms, making it “like another anchor,” Carroll says.

Look for the mid-summer opening of Audrey’s in its new location on upper level center course, offering women’s accessories including the English inspired “My Flat in London” line and an expanded Vera Bradley collection. Also check out New York & Company’s updated look and new location near Macy’s. Later this summer, you’ll also find Bath and Body Works in a new location just across the walkway next to Aerie and Victoria’s Secret.  And shopping at the multifaceted Gap just got easier, with The Gap/Gap Body/Gap Kids in a single location in the  upper level north end of the mall.

Whew! Better stop at a kiosk, study a map and plan your shopping trip.

Watch for a profile of Carroll, who will give us a peek at what goes on behind the scenes of a huge mall, in an upcoming issue.